Chapter Text
At the entrance to Vimara Village stood the acting grand sage Alhaitham, the general mahamatra Cyno and the chief of the forest rangers Tighnari. The presence of these all but important people would have one thinking this was actually a conference if not for the fact that they were standing at the side of the road. The conversation, on the other hand, would have one wanting to be in one of those boring conferences instead.
“No, I find no need for your inoculation.” Alhaitham shook his head at Tighnari's demand.
No syringe had ever touched Alhaitham’s soft and supple skin and he planned to keep it that way. No admonitions from Tighnari or anyone else would ever convince him.
Do not miscalculate his intentions. He understood better than anyone how inoculations have revolutionized the medicine of Sumeru. He even spent countless nights reading on the topic in hopes of solving his predicament. But despite his earnest efforts, nothing could really cure his disorder– Trypanophobia. It is the intense and irrational fear of needles.
It is also Alhaitham’s most guarded secret.
“Then, I can't grant you access to Vimara Village as per the village chief's ordinance. It doesn't matter if you're the acting grand sage. The law might be harsh but it is the law for a reason.”
Alhaitham could surmise that if he did not back down the situation would escalate into a dispute. He had immediately noticed the errors in the other person’s deliberations but found no need to controvert them. Tighnari already set his foot down. There was no need to poke the fennec fox any more than he already had.
He would just send someone else to inspect the village. While his presence would have helped in easing the hearts of the people and could have contributed to the stability of the Akademiya, there was no point if he might endanger the village’s children due to his indisposition. After much contemplation, he readied himself to speak once more but Cyno beat him to it.
“The law is harsh but it is the law. That much is true,” The general mahamatra nodded in acknowledgment.
Cyno was his extraneous variable.
He was an uncontrollable factor in Alhaitham’s contemplation. His words ignited something in his heart that no amount of logical reasoning could really explain. Alhaitham felt his stomach churn with the rebuttals he was already resolved to swallow.
He understood that Cyno was only attesting to the sentiment and not with the flawed argument, and that Tighnari’s ignorance of Sumeru’s administrative law came from an unwarranted sophistication that even he himself disliked. All signs pointed to him backing down. It was the right thing to do. It was the wise thing to do. But he just couldn’t.
“You're right. We do have to follow the law,” Alhaitham added before crossing his arms. “And as the acting grand sage, the law happens to give me the power to overwrite a village ordinances.”
There was no reaction.
“Let's see you try overturning a health ordinance enacted under the Health Risk Management Law then, acting grand sage. Good luck getting affirmation from all the seats of the darshan sages. Oh, right? More than half of those seats are vacant now.”
“There's no need to go over such formalities. A declaration that the emergency health crisis is over will suffice to nullify that legal impediment. That's well within my discretion as grand sage.”
No reaction still .
“Do you think I'd stay silent if you did that? I will file a protest against you for grave abuse of power.” Tighnari’s ears twitched in annoyance.
“Best of luck trying then, chief of the forest rangers. You would need the unequivocal affirmation of all the seats of the darshan sages to start an official investigation on the grand sage. And as you said earlier, more half of the seats are currently empty.”
“I will overthrow you if—”
“—Enough! Both of you! Be mindful of the time and place!”
There it is. Cyno finally intervened but not in the way Alhaitham had hoped for. He began to regret his own actions but it was too late to retreat now. The only way out was forward.
“I am merely asserting my right to refuse to be inoculated.”
“He's not taking a single step into the village until he’s immunized!”
The bickering pair spoke in unison.
“Tighnari, you go back to Gandharva Ville.”
“But—!”
“I'll make sure Alhaitham does not enter Vimara Village for now. I'll talk to him.” Cyno reassured, giving him a pat on the back.
“I have never gotten an inoculation before and I am not getting one now.” Alhaitham immediately countered.
“You say that as if I'd be willing to give you one now.” Tighnara replied, all the while brushing off Cyno’s arm and gifting Alhaitham a glare of disdain. A glare that was evenly returned by Alhaitham with one of his own.
“Enough is enough! Alhaitham, you stay here and calm down. I'll take Tignari back to Gandharva Ville. Then, we'll talk. Tighnari, follow me.”
Eventually, Cyno managed to break them apart and lead Tighnari away from Alhaitham. However, he was not sure if he could really solve this predicament just as he had promised.
Tighnari spoke only when he was sure they were out of that insufferable man's hearing range. He made an effort to be kind to Alhaitham since it was Cyno who was vouching for him. But he had not met someone as disagreeable his entire life.
“Out with it. I know this place like the back of my hand. We both know there’s no need to volunteer to accompany me in the Avidya Forest, my own turf.”
“Please don't refuse Alhaitham's vaccination.”
“It's not like I have a choice. I made an oath as an Amurtan scholar to not turn down any patient to the best of my abilities.”
“Still, I'd rather you do it of your own volition rather than out of duty. Alhaitham is a good man. I'm certain he has his reasons.”
“Alhaitham is shrewd man and he has you wrapped around his fingers. You're even so eager to defend him.”
“I... I'm not wrapped around his fingers! I am just speaking the truth.”
“Sure, you are.”
Tighnari sighed in exasperation at the stark contrast between Cyno’s denial and the very obvious redness in his cheeks. He did not seem oblivious to his own feelings at the very least but Cyno had always acted with self-restraint. It was his own inhibition that impeded his own path. And It was always Tighnari who had taken on the role of giving him that push to start things in motion.
But not this time.
“I'll talk to him, alright? The next time you see him, he won't be averse to getting vaccinated.”
“Fine, fine. I'll do it. You should hurry along. I'll walk the rest by myself. Go make sure he doesn't enter the village lest I start another rebellion myself.”
That contemptuous acting grand sage should go figure it out himself.